"I don't like him." Rin declares, the moment she pushes through the door. "He's too quick for his own good. Plus he gets on my nerves."

"Jungkook?"

She nods, slumping on the couch with her legs crossed together. She pushes out her lips.

"He found out I'm illiterate."

My eyes spark. "Did he mock you?"

"No," She growls. "Would've been better if he did, honestly. He had to be all nice and gentlemanly about it, and it made me cringe like a thousand times."

Rin kicks her shoes to the floor.

"Aeri!"

"Let's go to the beach."

And I'm about to agree when the doorbell suddenly rings. My eyes narrow— my mind instantly turning to V.

No way it was him. It had barely been an hour since he'd brought me back here.

It isn't him.

"What is...this?" Rin blinks as she stares down at a wrapped box, decorated elegantly with ribbons and chiffon. She finds another one below the first.

"Think this is for you, Aeri."

I take the cream-colored letter she hands in my direction. The paper is smooth and soft— of the highest quality.

My fingers swiftly cut it open, eyes skimming across the writing.

It's an invitation.

Aeri,

Every year, there is a celebration by the Center Square of the Skygrounds. It's quite a beautiful event— I think you'll enjoy it if you choose to attend.

This takes place tonight.

—V

I really don't understand what he's trying to do with me.

The letter crumples between my fingertips. And my jaw only flexes further when I see Rin open her box. It's a dress— just by a glance I can tell it's made of the most valuable material.

What is he trying to do?

Rein me in, by pulling Rin into this? Tame me with the sweet taste of how rich he was?

My mind runs. This wasn't bad for me— the way he was acting. He was pouring his attention and wealth on me, and this was one of the things I'd aimed for.

But still.

It's unsettling. It makes me anxious, to see the lengths he's willing to go for me. He was treating me like a lost lover, barely found after years of searching.

When I was just a poor, dependent girl who had nearly killed him a few days ago.

Rin's voice, full of suspicion, snaps me back.

"What in the world?" She says, face scrunched as she lifts up the dress. The silken, violet material is sewn with precious stones.

"Is this from that guy?" She asks, scoffing. "Aeri, he's either into you or he wants to play around with you. Who the heck sends stuff this expensive?"

"Or are you his long lost soulmate or something?"

"Definitely not," I scowl, opening my box. While Rin's dress is violet and embedded with amethyst, mine is white as snow.

My fingertips brush against the silk.

He's out of his mind.

"Rin, do you want to go?"

"Where?"

"The Skygrounds celebration," I say, my tone a little twisted. "Apparently it's tonight. It's what the dresses are for."

She laughs.

"Of course we're going to go. One thing I learned is that you never say no to free stuff, Aeri. And especially when the stuff is this good. This is like top-class material."

I smile, touching the dress again. It feels like the things clouds are made out of— worlds different from the tough cloth and stiff knits I'd worn back in the Underground.

She was right.

Why say no?

It was only a loss on his part, anyway.

______________________________

I regret coming.

With this dress and all the jewels I have hanging around my neck, I look like I belong among the Elites. I look so, but I've never felt this separated in my entire life.

They laugh, and they dance to the music. If I look to my right, there are piles of expensive cakes and wines. To my left, a pile even higher.

How can they laugh? Eat like this, spend like this.

Celebrate like this.

When there are people selling their own souls in the Underground to afford less than a single gem decorating their shoulders.

I look down at myself.

I shouldn't have come. I should've sent these dresses right back to the person who'd sent them.

And I would've already left, hadn't I seen Rin enjoying this so much.

She deserved this, even if it was only for a few hours. I didn't want to take this moment from her.

But this isn't for me.

_______________________________

"I don't see her."

"She must be here," Jungkook says, his eyes sweeping over the crowd. "I see Miss Rin."

I keep searching, slowly growing anxious. Had someone taken her somewhere? But she was too smart— and I knew she could defend herself well enough.

She would never let a man take her anywhere.

But she's also not here.

Aeri.

Where did you go?

"She's probably somewhere quiet." Jimin pipes up, his brow creasing as he sips on a glass of wine. "Maybe these parties aren't her cup of tea."

"Like there." He points at a secluded spot next to the fountain separated away from the party. It's dark— shadowed by the lights of the celebration. He squints.

"Actually, isn't that her? On the bench?"

My eyes narrow to see the hint of a feminine silhouette.

It is.

"Thanks, Jimin." I whisper as I hurry down the stairs, my lips pursing together. As I get closer, I grow more sure.

It was Aeri.

I'd disappointed her. Again.

She looks up, unsurprised when I place my jacket around her shoulders. As if she'd already seen me coming, from the very start.

"Aeri."

"I don't need this." She murmurs, shrugging out of the jacket I'd put over her. My head slightly tilts to the side— she was unhappy. From the Festival, and maybe from the fact I was here, next to her.

I should've already expected this. Aeri wasn't the type of girl to enjoy these things.

I'd just wanted to spoil her. Give her everything I had. A part of me had hoped that it would please her.

And I'd made a mistake. Like always.

I always seemed to fuck things up when it came to the one person I wanted to keep myself in line with.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I should've known."

Her arms are crossed. She looks beautiful and cold, her stormy eyes set forward and her lips pursed tightly. The dress looks gorgeous on her.

White, was her color.

But then again, every color was hers.

"Known what?"

"That you wouldn't enjoy this." I reply. "I just thought that you might have liked to see the—"

Then a piercing noise cuts me off. And my gaze tilts up to the dark sky as the first of the fireworks are launched, exploding in showers of vibrant colors. It rains down sparks, in stunning figures.

"...the fireworks."

There's silence. And I slowly find her, her hands folded tightly across her lap. But her head is angled upwards, the dark pools of her eyes reflecting the showers of gold and silver.

And her eyes soften, just a little.

Maybe this hadn't entirely been a mistake.

A slight smile lifts my lips. I don't even realize it myself, too focused on watching her.

I take in her happiness. Whatever I can find, despite of how little there is. The last time I'd seen something like this had been years ago.

I knew why she had let me take her here.

Bring her out from the Underground, when she had been so adamant on staying. Why her mind had suddenly changed.

She wanted to use me.

Take revenge, in her own way. She already knew that I was willing to do anything for her, and Aeri would use that to her advantage. She would drain me out alive, both emotionally and financially. A poisonous rose, a beautiful ivy of thorns around my neck.

That was her plan.

And I did not care.

As long as it would make her happy, she had me.

I would become her greatest asset.